In Buffalo, the average last spring frost is May 5 and the average first fall frost is Oct 15, a growing season of about 163 days (zone 6b). Start tomatoes indoors around Mar 24 and move them outside from May 19. Plant garlic Oct 22 to Oct 29, one to two weeks after the first fall frost.
Buffalo at a glance
- Last spring frost
- May 5 (average)
- First fall frost
- Oct 15 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 163 days
- Hardiness zone
- 6b (USDA)
- Weather stations
- Buffalo, NY; Fort Erie; and N Tonawanda, NY, 1991 to 2020 normals. GrowSmart's dates are the median of these stations, to within 3 days
An average frost date means frost is still possible after it in about half of years. GrowSmart times tender crops like tomatoes, peppers and basil after this date, not on it.
What to plant in Buffalo this month (January)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Buffalo in January. Next up: start onions indoors on Feb 24.
What to plant in Buffalo this month (February)
- Start onions indoors: Feb 24
What to plant in Buffalo this month (March)
- Start tomatoes indoors: Mar 24
- Start peppers indoors: Mar 24
- Start eggplant indoors: Mar 24
- Start lettuce indoors: Mar 24
- Start kale indoors: Mar 31
- Start broccoli indoors: Mar 31
- Start cabbage indoors: Mar 31
Coming up in early April: start basil indoors (Apr 7), direct sow spinach (Apr 14), direct sow peas (Apr 14) and direct sow radishes (Apr 14).
What to plant in Buffalo this month (April)
- Start basil indoors: Apr 7
- Direct sow spinach: Apr 14
- Direct sow peas: Apr 14
- Direct sow radishes: Apr 14
- Transplant lettuce: Apr 21
- Direct sow carrots: Apr 21
- Start cucumbers indoors: Apr 21
- Start zucchini indoors: Apr 21
- Start winter squash indoors: Apr 21
- Direct sow beets: Apr 28
- Transplant kale: Apr 28
- Transplant broccoli: Apr 28
- Transplant cabbage: Apr 28
- Direct sow potatoes: Apr 28
Coming up in early May: transplant onions (May 5), transplant cucumbers (May 12), transplant zucchini (May 12), transplant winter squash (May 12) and direct sow beans (May 12).
What to plant in Buffalo this month (May)
- Transplant onions: May 5
- Transplant cucumbers: May 12
- Transplant zucchini: May 12
- Transplant winter squash: May 12
- Direct sow beans: May 12
- Transplant tomatoes: May 19
- Transplant peppers: May 19
- Transplant eggplant: May 19
- Transplant basil: May 19
What to plant in Buffalo this month (June)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Buffalo in June. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Aug 6.
What to plant in Buffalo this month (July)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Buffalo in July. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Aug 6.
What to plant in Buffalo this month (August)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Aug 6
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Aug 6
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Aug 20
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Aug 27
Coming up in early September: sow radishes for a fall harvest (Sep 10).
What to plant in Buffalo this month (September)
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Sep 10
What to plant in Buffalo this month (October)
- Plant garlic: Oct 22 to Oct 29
What to plant in Buffalo this month (November)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Buffalo in November. Next up: start onions indoors on Feb 24.
What to plant in Buffalo this month (December)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Buffalo in December. Next up: start onions indoors on Feb 24.
Buffalo planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 24 | Transplant May 19 | From Aug 5 |
| Peppers | Mar 24 | Transplant May 19 | From Jul 30 |
| Eggplant | Mar 24 | Transplant May 19 | From Aug 2 |
| Basil | Apr 7 | Transplant May 19 | From Jun 30 |
| Onions (from seed) | Feb 24 | Transplant May 5 | From Aug 13 |
| Lettuce | Mar 24 | Transplant Apr 21Fall: direct sow Aug 20 | From May 31Fall: from Sep 29 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow Apr 14Fall: direct sow Aug 27 | From May 24Fall: from Oct 6 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow Apr 14Fall: direct sow Aug 6 | From Jun 13Fall: from Oct 5 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow Apr 14Fall: direct sow Sep 10 | From May 9Fall: from Oct 5 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow Apr 21 | From Jun 30 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow Apr 28 | From Jun 22 |
| Kale | Mar 31 | Transplant Apr 28Fall: direct sow Aug 6 | From Jun 22Fall: from Sep 30 |
| Broccoli | Mar 31 | Transplant Apr 28 | From Jul 2 |
| Cabbage | Mar 31 | Transplant Apr 28 | From Jul 7 |
| Cucumbers | Apr 21 | Transplant May 12 | From Jul 6 |
| Zucchini | Apr 21 | Transplant May 12 | From Jul 1 |
| Winter squash | Apr 21 | Transplant May 12 | From Aug 10 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow May 12 | From Jul 6 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow Apr 28 | From Jul 17 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves Oct 22 to Oct 29 | Around Jul 28 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from Buffalo's average frost dates. Tomatoes are indeterminate, lettuce is looseleaf and beans are bush beans. Harvest dates are when the first picking is usually ready. Garlic follows University of Minnesota Extension (see below).
Fall planting in Buffalo
Plant garlic Oct 22 to Oct 29. That is one to two weeks after Buffalo's average first fall frost of Oct 15, the timing University of Minnesota Extension recommends, so the cloves root before winter without sending shoots up. Harvest comes around Jul 28 the following summer. How to plant garlic in Buffalo.
Shallots: GrowSmart's plan has you plant shallot sets in fall in zone 5 and warmer, and in spring in colder zones.
Cool-season crops GrowSmart schedules for a fall harvest in Buffalo:
- Peas: sow Aug 6, ready from about Oct 5
- Kale: sow Aug 6, ready from about Sep 30
- Lettuce: sow Aug 20, ready from about Sep 29
- Spinach: sow Aug 27, ready from about Oct 6
- Radishes: sow Sep 10, ready from about Oct 5
Nearby planting calendars
Buffalo planting questions
When is the last frost in Buffalo?
The average last spring frost in Buffalo is May 5, and the average first fall frost is Oct 15, from 1991 to 2020 climate normals at 3 nearby weather stations. Frost is still possible after the spring date in about half of years.
When should I start tomato seeds in Buffalo?
Start tomatoes indoors around Mar 24, 8 weeks before moving them outside around May 19, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in Buffalo in fall?
Garlic goes in Oct 22 to Oct 29. For fall harvests, sow peas and kale around Aug 6, lettuce around Aug 20, spinach around Aug 27 and radishes around Sep 10.